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Cannoli Cream Puffs
5 from 3 votes

Cannoli Cream Puffs

Two of the best desserts in one! Tender pastry filled with cannoli cream filling.

Prep Time
45 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
Servings: 30
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (5 3/4 oz)
  • 3/4 tsp cocoa powder unsweetened
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup milk (I used 1%)
  • 6 Tbsp butter diced into 1 tbsp pieces, unsalted
  • 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup egg about 4 whole large eggs and 2 egg whites
  • semi-sweet chocolate chips mini, or finely chopped chocolate
  • chopped , unsalted pistachios
  • powdered sugar , for dusting
Cannoli Cream Filling
  • 24 oz. ricotta cheese strained, whole milk
  • 16 oz. mascarpone
  • 1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a mixing bowl, using a rubber or silicone spatula, blend together ricotta and mascarpone cheese while running and pressing mixture along bottom of bowl to remove any lumps. Fold in powdered sugar. Cover and chill 30 minutes (or until ready to use).
  2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder and cinnamon, set aside.
  3. In a medium saucepan, combine water, milk, butter, sugar and salt and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally to melt butter and dissolve sugar.
  4. Reduce heat to low, add flour mixture all at once and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until mixture forms ball, about 2 minutes. Transfer mixture to the bowl of an electric stand mixer and let cool, 3 minutes.
  5. Using the paddle attachment, and with mixer set on low speed, beat eggs into dough one at a time (dough will separate after each egg is added, then it will slowly come together and become smooth).
  6. Transfer mixture to a large piping bag fitted with a round tip. Immediately pipe onto rounds, approximately 1 1/4-inches each, and spacing them 2-inches apart.
  7. Bake in preheated oven 10 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 375 and continue to cook 10 minutes longer, then turn oven off and allow to rest in warm oven 10 minute longer, or until they sound hollow when tapped.
  8. Remove from oven and pierce with a small knife to release steam. Cool completely on a wire rack then cut each in half.
  9. Pipe or spoon in cannoli cream filling. Sprinkle chocolate chips or chopped pistachios around edges of cream filling (I preferred mine with both). Dust with powdered sugar and for best results serve within 1 hour of filling.

Notes

  • *To strain mine, working in two batches, I placed the ricotta over several layers of paper towels then added more paper towels and squeezed some of the excess moisture out (you can do this twice if needed, you want to have some moisture but not a lot. Once the powdered sugar is added it makes it a bit runnier).
  • *To strain mine, working in two batches, I placed the ricotta over several layers of paper towels then added more paper towels and squeezed some of the excess moisture out (you can do this twice if needed, you want to have some moisture but not a lot. Once the powdered sugar is added it makes it a bit runnier).
  • Nutrition estimate does not include chocolate chips, pistachios or powdered sugar toppings.